Kavanagh Appraisal Company has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"
Define the term "Appraisal" Define the term "Appraisal" (Top)An appraisal report is an evaluation allowing the appraiser to come to an opinion of value. The real estate appraiser will typically use a few "approaches," typically three, to come to the estimation of market value. The Cost Approach is one of the approaches that real estate appraisers use to find the value of a home; it involves concluding what the improvements would cost less physical deterioration, adding the land value. Easily the most common approach in finding the likely sales price of a house is the Sales Comparison Approach which involves concluding a comparison to comparable properties close by. Usually, the Sales Comparison Approach is the most definite indicator of market value of a residential property. One of the least common approaches in appraising residential properties is the Income Approach, which is generally used to determine the market value of a property based on what an investor would pay based on the capital produced by the building.Describe what an appraiser does (Top)An appraiser generates a professional, unbiased assessment of market value, often in the context of a real estate sale. Appraisers summarize their expert investigation in appraisal reports.What are the reasons someone would request services from Kavanagh Appraisal Company? (Top)There are a lot of reasons to order an appraisal from Kavanagh Appraisal Company with the most common reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. A few other reasons for obtaining an appraisal report include:
What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection? (Top)Appraisers do not do perform residential property inspections and are not home inspectors. An inspection is a third-party evaluation of the livable structure and appliances of a house, from the roof to the bottom. The usual home inspector's report will include an evaluation of the integrity of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, and accessible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement, and visible structure.My agent performed a CMA for me. Is that the same as an appraisal? (Top)To be honest, they share nothing in common. The CMA depends on indefinite trends in the market. The appraisal depends on specific definite comparable sales. Location and architectural prices are also a priority in an appraisal. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." An appraisal delivers a defensible and carefully documented opinion of value.Who's creating the report is hands down the biggest difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents write CMA's, and they don't always know the whole market or bear specific competence when it comes to home valuation. A certified, South Carolina licensed professional who bases their livelihood on valuing homes in and around Charleston County creates the appraisal. Likewise, the agent has something at stake since they get a commission based on the property's selling price - their commission - whereas the appraiser is bound by a code of ethics to accept a previously agreed upon sum for work they perform, regardless of their value conclusion. What's in an appraisal report? (Top)The main purpose of an appraisal report is to let the reader know the value of the real estate in question, and depending on the scope of the report, you'll usually see the following:
Once the assignment has been delivered, how can I have assurance that the final number is valid? (Top)In the documentation of an appraisal, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:
Who employs appraisers? (Top)Mortgage lenders are an appraiser's typical customer, requiring their services to ensure property involved in a mortgage transaction is adequate collateral for a loan. Attorneys and CPAs also retain the services of appraisers for divorce and estate settlements.Where does an appraiser get the information used to estimate values in Charleston County or other areas? (Top)Collecting data is one of the primary roles of an appraiser. Data can be categorized as either Specific or General. Specific data is gathered from the home itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are noted by the appraiser during an inspection.General data is collected from a many sources. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) have information on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. To double-check actual sales prices, we use items in the assessor's office and other public documents that are usually online nowadays. Flood zone data is available from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood service. And last but not least, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her past experience in doing assignments for other properties in the same market. How can a licensed appraiser help me? (Top)An appraisal is a valuable tool anytime the value of your home is relevant to some financial decision. If you're selling your house, an appraisal helps you set the most appropriate price. If you're buying, it makes sure you don't overpay. For people settling an estate or divorce, an appraisal from Kavanagh Appraisal Company is the best documentation to ensure assets are divided evenly. A house is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Without knowing its real value, wise financial decisions are impossible.What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it? (Top)PMI is the common abbreviation for for Private Mortgage Insurance. This supplementary plan protects the lender if a borrower doesn't pay on the loan and the value of the house is lower than the loan balance. Once you can prove the amount you owe on your home is less than 80% of the home's market value, you can make a case to your lender to drop the PMI.
Do you need anything from me in advance? (Top)We begin with an inspection of the property. During this process, we will come to your home and measure it, determine the layout of the rooms inside, confirm all aspects of the home's general condition, and take several photos of your house for inclusion in the report. Is there anything you can do to help? Yes there is! First, be sure we have easy access to the exterior of the house . Trim any shrubs and move any items that would make it difficult to measure the structure. Indoors, make sure the appraiser can get to items like furnaces and water heaters.The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:
Define "Market Value" (Top)In real estate appraising, Market Value is commonly defined as:
Who actually owns the appraisal report? (Top)For mortgage transactions, the lender requests the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. While the buyer pays for the report as part of the closing costs, the lender retains the right to use the report or any information contained within. The buyer is certainly entitled to a copy of the report - it's usually included with all the other closing documents - but is not entitled to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.It's different when it's the homeowner hiring the appraiser for things outside securing a mortgage. In these cases, the appraiser may define how the appraisal can be used; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stipulated otherwise, the home owner can do whatever they want with the appraisal. Are some home improvements more worthwhile than others? (Top)The answer to this is different depending upon the location of the home. For example, if you're in a neigborhood of small to medium priced homes, a media room may not be something people in that price range wantAs a rule, the most value returned from renovating a home comes in the kitchen. One recent study revealed that putting $20,000 into a kitchen remodel would add about $17,500 to the value of the home - or about an 88% return on investment. Bathrooms are right up there with kitchens, yielding 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also increase the value of your home (when done well) as long as your home doesn't then become an oddball for your neighborhood in terms of size. |